What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentAstaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, C12-14 Pareth-12, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Ceramide NP, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Phospholipids, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextrin, Astaxanthin, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Atelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Sorbitan Stearate, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Soluble Collagen, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Atelocollagen
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
